EFCC Mourns Officer Killed by Internet Fraudster, Condemns False Narratives

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has expressed grief on the loss of one of its officers, Assistant Superintendent  of the EFCC,  ASE11, Aminu Sahabi Salisu, who was killed in cold blood while on a legitimate duty  on January 17, 2025 by a suspected internet fraudster,  Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu.

The Commission, however, expressed concern over what it described as the irresponsible, callous,  inhuman and outrageous narratives being circulated on social media on the whys and wherefores of the fatal accident.  
“It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer, who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz,” the anti-graft agency said in a statement.  

Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, who issued the statement noted that more worrisome was the fact that some faceless commentators were pitching their tents with an alleged criminal, who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty, adding that there was no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act.  

“The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, Commission and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures on the death of the slain officer.
“Salisu,  alongside other investigators of the EFCC,  were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close,  Ifite, Awka,  Anambra State, to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters  in the early hours of January 17.  
“The operation was duly documented at the Anambra State Command Headquarters  and Area Command  of the  Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.

“The operation was initially smooth sailing with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.  
“However,  Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV Camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed sighting them,  declined to open his door for the investigators, who politely demanded entrance to his apartment.  

“Defying all the introduction and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them and killed Salisu in the process and wounded another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment,” the statement read in part.
Oyewale disclosed further that preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy.  
Items recovered from the suspect’s apartment were two laptops, ipads and several recording devices, which Oyewale said established Ikechukwu’s involvement in internet fraud.

He explained that although the suspect was currently in police custody owing to the murderous dimension of his case, the Commission would surely bring him to trial.
“The EFCC also wishes to alert the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security.
“Intelligence has shown that these criminals are carrying arms, involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings and other deadly acts.  The public should not fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere ‘Yahoo boys and girls’,” he said.